Pro Rugby Agency is Trailblazing the Sport of Rugby in the United States

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Greg Tanner founder of Pro Rugby Agency and author of "The Business of Rugby" talks with Evrybit about his big bet on the sport of rugby in the United States.

Denver, Colorado (PRWEB)November 26, 2015

Pro Rugby Agency (PRA) is the trailblazer for professional rugby representation. Since 2012, Pro Rugby agency has been the only agency focused on rugby in the United States (U.S.). Greg Tanner, founder of Pro Rugby Agency and author of the number one book “The Business of Rugby” is experienced and highly skilled at representing his clients, through his exemplary communication and negotiation skills. Both Mr. Tanner and the team at Pro Rugby Agency have commercial maturity in the sport of rugby giving them a distinct advantage over other sports agents. Mr. Tanner is a former rugby player and has experience with rugby business analysis, allowing for a holistic approach creating and maintaining client relationships surrounding the sport of rugby. Mr. Tanner and Pro Rugby Agency have created a website http://www.professionalrugby.agency full of information for professional rugby players, leagues, teams and sponsors hoping to connect with one another.

Pro Rugby Agency focuses on building professional relationships between clients and their associates. It is important to efficiently and appropriately connect athletes, management, teams, and leagues to one another, as well as to brands looking to sponsor. Pro Rugby Agency is the crucial link between these entities. Pro Rugby Agency practices methods that are successful and measurable, in order to strategically develop its clients and client relationships.

The opportunities available to the clients of PRA are endless as professional rugby in the U.S. is currently at an early stage commercially. Rugby is an exciting and emerging sport in the U.S. with brands constantly seeking ways to get involved. PRA is here to make those connections and maintain relationships between brands and clients, allowing both to capitalize on those opportunities. PRA concentrates on the business aspects of rugby so that its clients can remain focused on competition, playing and organizing the game itself.

Evrybit: Welcome Greg, and thanks for taking the time to sit down for this interview. Let’s start with telling us why your focus is in sports and more specifically rugby.
Tanner: "I spent the last four years looking at rugby and whether or not there is an opportunity to make money in or around the sport. Around 2012, I concluded that it was the time to get involved and start laying ground work for what will be a breakout sport in the United States."

Evrybit: It’s quite a change from running Aspen Capital Fund, focusing on Hispanic markets and early stage funding. What is your biggest challenge?
Tanner: "It’s actually not much different. Surprisingly, there are a lot of common business challenges and problems that need to be solved. But looking at opportunities, applying a proven methodology, and selling is applied the same way. There is a lot less risk and it’s a lot more fun, the rugby people are great to work, and when it comes down to it – as much of a cliché it is very much a personal relationship business."

Evrybit: So there is a viable business in the sport of rugby? Is it professional in the United States?
Tanner: "The professional game is coming in 2016. There are many professional leagues throughout Europe, and the southern hemisphere. There is a very high level of competition across America the most successful to date is the Pacific Rugby Premiership, we have seen the rise of the American Rugby Premiership and now the “PRO League. There is plenty of rugby in America. But, I see that rugby will need to take a page from history and grow organically and use the best practices that we see in the successful professional leagues, even learn from Major League Soccer, who nearly failed trying to follow the NFL model. "

Evrybit: So how does Pro Rugby Agency play a part if rugby isn’t professional?
Tanner: "Just because it isn’t professional doesn’t mean there isn’t money in the sport. There is tons of money spent on and around rugby. Consider 900 college teams and 700 clubs here, competitions, tournaments, entertainment, hospitality, gear, travel, etc. It’s a big sport where brands are very excited to be associated with and are seeking ways to get involved. That’s the problem we solve we help the athletes, teams, leagues, events create revenue and we help brands get involved with mature and commercially viable mediums. We are a selling function of marketing. We constantly sell rugby to everybody."

To learn more about Pro Rugby Agency visit http://professionalrugby.agency To talk to an agent email agent(at)professionalrugby.agency
To reach Gregory Tanner email greg.tanner(at)professionalrugby(dot)agency
Download The Business of Rugby at TheBusinessOfRugby.com